iBuzz Mobiles, another home grown mobile phone company, has launched its first phone. The mobile phone dubbed the “i4 (SlimBUZZ)” is a slim profile (11mm) dual SIM phone.

It comes with features like opera mini browser, stereo Bluetooth, privacy protection, 1.3 MP camera.

Phone has a glossy finish with a 6.1 cm QVGA color display. Pre loaded Java applications, support for popular social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and Nimbuzz.

The phone also has the ability to work as a Modem and a webcam via USB. The company claims that the new handset has a battery backup of 13 days on standby and 4.5 hours talk time.

Vertex Management Solutions, which is the parent company of the iBuzz mobiles, had earlier announced that it will launch five mobile devices across six states in India.

iBuzz mobiles will be available across key states like Delhi NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.

Commenting on the launch Sutikshan Naithani, director & chief executive officer, Vertex Management Solutions said “The idea for starting iBuzz came after an extensive research on the current mobile industry in India. There is a definite demand for professional mobile companies providing functionality in mobile devices at affordable prices.
He added, “We will be introducing five variants as part of our first phase and will be expanding our reach and portfolio in the coming year.”

The five models announced were i1800 (Big Buzz), i2200 (Picture Buzz), i3300 (Multi Buzz), i4400 (Music Buzz) and i4 (Slim Buzz). With the price range varying from Rs 2200 to Rs 4000.

All phones support key features like Dual SIM capability, color screens, multi language support and music players. Other features include security measures like phone trackers, panic button, and support for popular social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and Nimbuzz.

Jabra has announced two new offerings Cruiser 2 and WAVE. Cruiser 2 is an in car handsfree solution and Wave is a premium handfree.

Jabra Crusier2 includes Caller ID which tells users who is calling based on contact records of the phone (for example, “Mom calling” or “Martin Work calling”) – and Voice Guidance also tells user about connectivity status and low battery levels.

It also has FM Transmitter which gives the ability to transmit and play MP3s from a mobile device to the car’s stereo system via the in-car speakerphone. Noise cancellation feature is also present.

The second new product launched by Jabra is the Jabra Wave, a Bluetooth headset featuring an enhanced behind-the-ear wearing style. Jabra Wave’s behind-the-ear fit emulates the design of earlier popular headsets including the Jabra EarWave boom and BT250. This Jabra style has sold more than 10 million units worldwide to-date.

Company claims that Jabra Wave is significantly slimmer and easier-to-use than its predecessors.

It informs you about the status with voice guidance system called StatusDisplayTM. The flexible shape of the headset molds to a user’s ear and distributes the headset’s weight evenly, providing a secure and discreet fit.

It also features a new microphone concept with significantly better immunity to wind noise. The headset’s boom tip features a microphone that is designed with rounded holes for smooth wind passage and less turbulence and the microphone is also wrapped in foam material developed to further reduce wind noise. This design, combined with Digital Signal Processing (DSP), allows for crystal clear audio.

Both Jabra WAVE and Cruiser2 can be connected to up to two devices at the same time via MultiuseT technology.

Jabra Cruiser2 is priced at Rs. 5999 and Jabra Wave at Rs. 3899.

It is for a fact that having a mobile phone now a day is not only a medium of communication but it is also emerging as a versatile advertising medium. The same device can be used to deliver text messages, banner advertisements, video advertisements, branded applications and now increasingly popular audio ads too.

Until now, radio has been the sole channel for delivering audio ads to the mass market. The mobile channel, however, now offers excellent promise to brands as a non-intrusive medium for the targeted delivery of effective audio advertisements, without requiring any change in the calling process.

The model is very simple yet brilliant–while waiting for the called party to answer the phone, the caller listens to brand commercials instead of a regular tring-tring or a caller tune. As soon as the called party answers the phone, the advertisement stops.

On average, there is a 15-second wait time before a call is answered. In these 15 seconds, the caller is a relatively undistracted, giving captive audience for brands. Messages delivered in this gap will be not only be heard but also listened to.

If we aggregate these 15 seconds of white space across all calls being made in India alone, you will find a huge amount of media space. One day’s call volume alone in India can generate a mind-boggling amount of media play time equivalent to approximately 40 years.

StratosHear has launched this innovative model of delivering radio style advertisements on mobile phones across India in partnership with mobile operators.

This offering is an opt-in model and is available on all mobile phones regardless of the price. Consumers who choose the AdRBT (Advertisement ring back tone) service receive benefits from the Telco in return. As such, AdRBT represents an innovative model in which consumers benefit from being an active participant of the advertising channel.

This model is also great for advertisers as the audience is captive and message recall rates are high. An added advantage here is that messages can be targeted and can be delivered in local languages as well.

Mobile advertising has emerged as an integral part of any brand’s marketing campaign today. Brands need to consider AdRBT in its own light–to come up with punchy, catchy messages that their captive listeners can absorb in 15 seconds or less. It’s a challenge, surely, but the opportunity and scope is tremendous!

With AdRBT, your message is sure to be heard and you have a direct connection with your consumer. Each time with this new advertising medium, someone is surely listening!
(Vinay Kumar is chief executive officer of StratosHear Technologies. Views are personal)

Other than tablets, the next big thing at CES 2011 was glass-less 3D display technology. Toshiba, Sony and Samsung all have glass-less 3D displays on devices such as netbooks and smartphones. What many people don’t know though is that glass-less 3D started with Nintendo.

Glass-less 3D display technology, contrary to popular belief, has been around for a while. In an interview posted on Nintendo’s website the company’s chief executive officer Satoru Iwata says that Nintendo had already come up with an attachable screen for Game Boy Advance SP (GBA SP) that could show 3D images. For those who don’t know, GBA SP was a huge hit of its time, in fact it was the portable game player of choice for most enthusiasts.

Explaining the kind of problems the company was experiencing with glass-less 3D technology, Satoru Iwata said that a special liquid crystal is required to create 3D images visible to the naked eye. At that time, LCD Resolution was low, so images didn’t look enticing enough, and Game Boy’s glass-less 3D player was never realised as a product.

Besides, GBA SP was doing well, so its makers didn’t feel an urgent need to introduce the 3D screen. But 3D imagery was something that was always playing on Nintendo’s mind and the company finally has plans to launch.